1-5 Rosemount Game vs U12 South Blue

Managing is taking care of what has already been created.  Leadership is, on the other hand, moving foward to create something new.  Not all managers are leaders.  Leaders tell us not what is, but what can be.
-Herb Brooks

Today was our first game of the Rosemount League.  The game started off quickly for the South team with a goal 4 minutes in.  We were taken a bit by surprise because the South team had choosen to play with four defenders.  With all the combination work we had been doing the formation the South was playing was going to make that style of play very difficult due to the high numbers in the box and the fast turf. 

16 minutes in Jordy was able to slip a through ball inside the box to Hannah, who finished off the goal to tie the game at 1-1.

At half time we talked about how we can beat their 4 defenders.  We discussed that because they are dropping back so close to their box it makes it very tough to pass through them without the ball going to them or going out of bounds on the turf.  So we need to start shooting from distance to draw them out a little further.  As they step up to defend our long range shots, then we will be able to combine and go through them.

Right away at the start of the second half we all got caught ball watching and they played in a cross to an unmarked player on the far side to take the lead again.

After that we kept attacking but we had lots of issues getting through their defense and we were reluctant to take shots from the outside.  I am hoping in the coming weeks as we continue to work on shooting in our ball striking sessions that all of them will start to enjoy shooting from distance and be thinking shot every time they are within 30 yards of goal.

With 10 minutes left we played a cross into the box that Britt flicked on with her head just before their goalie collided with her and we were awarded a PK.  Blitz stepped up and hammered the penalty home.

The game ended tied 2-2.

At the end of each game I have decided to take something from Eric Singer who is head coach of our U18 and U15 teams where at the end of each game the team gives input and the two previous game's MVP's choose this games MVP's and tell them why.  Then these MVP's are our captains for the next game.

MVP's for today were Carly for her great runs off the ball and Jordy for her passing and creative play in setting up the first goal.

Field Training 1/5 Transition and Combine

“The answer’s in the dirt, I don’t care if you started at dawn, you haven’t even begun to practice if there’s still some daylight.”
-Ben Hogan

It was an exciting day as we turned the year and begin Winter II of our training program.  We were originally supposed to be on the new full field at Corner Kick, but delays happen and their new facility and renovations will not be done until the ground thaws so we had to change our training time to 7:30am on their Large field with the U11 Boys.  Sometimes you just have to roll with things and move on.  (At least it is not 6am like hockey practices.)

Unfortunately our U11 Boys Coach can not work with the boys at this point in time, but that means that I get to train both groups together.  Each week I get between 16-22 players so I have a full squad to work with, which is fantastic.  Training with the older girls is great for the boys because the girls are more technical and stronger so it improves that part of their game.  For the girls, it is awesome because the boys are quicker and more creative.  It is really fun to watch them learn from each other each week.

0-10 Tennis Ball Work
Simple long distance catch

10-20 Ball Masters
I have started to create a routine for the kids that they can work on by themselves.  Today I gave them the first 30 seconds of the routine.

20-60 2v2 Continuous

60-75 Scrimmage
Of course they want to go boys vs girls.  I wonder how long it will be before they want to mix it up?

Christmas Cup

Every year I have been a coach I have asked my teams if they wanted to participate in the Christmas Cup at Corner Kick and every year the kids say "Yes!"  Why?  Because it is fun.  Why is it fun?  Because it is fast paced and different.  The boards keep the ball moving so you are always involved in the play, thus creating lots of action. 

Are there critics to the boarded game?  Sure.  There are critics for everything.  Those critics will say that the boards just allow the kids to boot the ball and the boards are not realistic.  Well duh.  Booting the ball has little to do with the boards and more to do with the players comfort on the ball.  Indoors or outdoors, if you are comfortable on the ball you will keep the ball under control.  If you are not comfortable on the ball you will boot it as far away from your goal as you can. 

Are the boards realistic to the outdoor game?  No, because you don't have boards in the outdoor game.  That is what makes this game different!  Because of the boards, the ball stays in bounds almost the entire game and you get more touches on the ball.  Which is fun and having the ball in bounds more will help develop younger players.

The other argument against the boards is that you will get hurt when you get hit against them.  Can this happen?  Of course.  I have played there for 10 years and I worked there for 3 years; I have seen that way more injuries happen away from the boards than on the boards.  When someone does get injured on the boards it is almost always because a player was out of control and in most cases their rash tackle would probably cause an injury with boards or with out.  

When playing with boards it comes down to having control over your body and the ball.  If you can control both of those things you are off to a good start in becoming a good player. 

On to the tournament itself.  The only reason I put together teams for this tournament is that it is fun.  I don't care how we do, because the kids are having fun.  No real reports to give besides the fact that everyone enjoyed it and that was the point.